Online resources
This is where you can find all sorts practical help and the latest in museum and gallery thinking.
We've divided our resources into fact sheets, templates, 'How to' guides as well as longer discussion papers called 'Thinking about ...'.
There is also a large selection of education kits and some of M&G's latest research.
If there's something you need and can't find, contact us and we'll do our best to fill that gap.
Prepare an Acknowledgment of Country Statement
A Welcome to Country is normally performed by an Elder of the local Indigenous language group. An Acknowledgment of Country can be performed in the absence of an Indigenous representative.
Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country
In working respectfully with Indigenous communities there are several important protocols worth knowing and understanding.
Reconciliation Australia
First stop for Aboriginal resources for museums.
The Indigenous Art Code
Commercial safeguards for Indigenous artists and their art.
Introduction to Access
Tips on how-to provide a truly 'accessible' visitor experience.
Condition reports: the essentials
An ABC of Condition reporting
Condition reports - a 'how-to' guide
Equipment for examining objects and vocabulary for what you find.
Collections Care Manual
The Collections Care Manual developed by Western Australian Museum is an online resource developed for small museums, galleries and private collectors.
Preservation of historic leather, including saddlery
This how to guide looks at practical steps you can take to ensure the protection of historic leather objects, including saddlery.
Shopping list: flood recovery
List of supplies for onsite flood disaster management.
Caring for collections work book
This how to guide provides an overview of how to care for book and document and why this is important. By the British Library Preservation Advisory Centre.
Cleaning in museums
This how to guide by History SA takes you through a cleaning regime for the museum space, display and storage areas and individual objects.
Visual Glossary of conservation terms
This web resource is a set of photographic images which describe damage and deterioration in object collections.
Combatting mould
This how to pamphlet by Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is all about how to combat mould in the wet season.
Handling museum objects
Preventive conservation starts with careful handling. This M&G how to guide takes you through some guidelines on how to handle objects.
Handling paper, paintings and framed objects
This how to sheet by M&G will take you through the steps of handling papers, paintings and framed objects.
Handling textiles, furniture, ceramics and glass objects
This how to guide by M&G will show you how to handle textiles, furniture, ceramics and glass objects.
Identify medical objects in museum collections
This how to by M&G takes you through the steps of identifying medical objects in your collection and why it is important to do so.
Managing pests in the collection
This how to sheet from History SA will assist you with Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Pack and store books
This online resource will help you manage the conservation needs of books in your collection.
Plan and prioritise for collection care
A collection care how to guide by SHARE Museums East.
Preventive conservation
This how to guide looks at practical steps you can take to ensure the protection, safety and security of your collection. By Te Papa National Services.
NGV Artists' Colourmen resource
This how to guide assists in the identification and dating of paintings using Artists' Colourmen stamps.
Caring for photographic collections
This how-to guide includes common causes of deterioration and several quick tips for preventing damage to photographic collections.
Paper Research website
National Archives launched a website about paper research.
Environmental guidelines: an interim position
This report addresses changes to the Environmental Guidelines for storage and display of collections in museums and galleries.
Caring for Historic Farm Machinery
This publication is for museums and historical societies with heritage collections, museum advisors and private collectors.
Guidelines for the care of media artworks
This site aims to be a resource for collectors, artists, and institutions of all sizes caring for works of art that have moving image, electronic, and digital elements.
How to brush vacuum an object
Removing dust and dirt by brush vacuuming (surface cleaning) can be very beneficial for many material types.
Light damage and light control
Light damage is cumulative and irreversible but can be minimised.
Looking after silver
This sheet explains how to clean silver and how to slow down the corrosion process.
Australian best practice guide to collecting cultural material
This guide describes the ethical and legal issues that museums, galleries and libraries need to consider when they acquire or borrow cultural material.
Reviewing collections
A guide to support museums in considering and selecting appropriate methodologies to guide the rationalisation of their collections.
Acquisition fact sheet
This M&G fact sheet takes you through the formal process of obtaining legal possession by purchase, donation or through bequest of an item.
Acquisition register template
Easily document your object accessions using this template.
Collections Law
The Collections Law website provides resources for those working in an archive, gallery, museum or library.
Cataloguing
This fact sheet by M&G talks about cataloguing your collection.
Collection policies
This resource explains what a collection policy is, its importance and how to develop one.
Collection Management Systems
This fact sheet by M&G talks about the different types of Collection Management Systems available.
Computer Cataloguing Databases
This 'thinking about' resource by M&G tells you about the advantages and limitations of cataloguing your collection using a database.
Deaccessioning and Disposal
This fact sheet by M&G NSW takes you through the process of deaccessioning and disposing of objects in your collection.
Deed of gift form
You can use this template to document the transfer of ownership of donated objects.
Identify prints and photos
Online resource for all identifying all print types.
Inward Loan sample agreement
This template gives you the basics of inward loans agreements
List of approved valuers
This is a list of approved valuers under the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
Loans Fact Sheet
This M&G fact sheet explains the process of documenting museum loans.
Outward Loan sample agreement
This template gives you the basics of outward loan agreements
Sample Loan register
This is sample Loan register gives you an easy way to document your loans
Cultural Gifts Program Guide
The Cultural Gifts Program encourages Australians to donate items of cultural significance from private collections to public art galleries, museums, libraries and archives.
Bequests fact sheet
Bequests are one means of acquiring objects or financial support. Museums and galleries need to be aware of some important legal and management considerations in this area.
Not all is lost in a fire
Step-by-step approach for salvaging objects after a fire.
Develop a disaster plan
This is a 'how-to' guide by M&G that describes the steps involved with developing a disaster plan.
Museum Digital Strategy: Examples and Resources
A showcase of digital strategy documents and related resources from leading museums and cultural organisations.
Digital Transformation in the Museum Industry
Produced in conjunction with Museums & The Web, this 15 page report draws on the views of more than 70 professionals working in museums across the world to explore the digital strategies of today’s museums and how they link to visitor engagement plans and focus areas for investment.
Getting your organisation listed on Google (My Business)
Put your organisation information on Google Search and Maps, so that customers can find you, no matter what device they're using.
Facebook - how and why
Creating a Facebook page for your organisation.
Facebook Evaluation
The importance of measuring the success of your Facebook page.
How to photograph a painting or two-dimensional artwork
Photographing prints and paintings for documentation or reproduction.
Twitter for influencers
Review those who follow you, identify the influencers and assist with developing your Twitter strategy.
An ABC of Twitter
A quick how to guide to Twitter.
Digital definitions for small museums
What exactly is a digital asset? Confused by technology and wanting to sort your modems from your routers and find out what a tablet is? Then let’s start at the very beginning.
Copyright and the Digital Economy
This discussion paper by the Australian Law Reform Commission is about copyright and the digital economy.
Digitising Your Collection - Part 1 Project Planning
This 'thinking about' resource takes you through the first step of digitising your collection - planning your project.
Digitising Your Collection - Part 2 The Golden Rule of Digitisation
This 'thinking about' resource takes you through the golden rule of digitisation, 'capture once, use many times'.
Digitising Your Collection - Part 3 Technical Specifications
This 'thinking about' resource takes you through the technical specifications of a digitisation project.
Digitising Your Collection - Part 4 Scanning and Handling Tips
This 'thinking about' resource takes you through some scanning and handling tips.
Digitising Your Collection - Part 5 Metadata and Access
This 'thinking about' resource discusses metadata and how to provide access to your digitised collection.
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
This is a pre-recorded interview from M&G's Online + Onsite event, between Peter Gorgels from the Rijksmuseum and Susan Cairns.
Technology, Museums, and the Long(er) Now
This is Suse Cairns' presentation from M&G's Online + Onsite event, about museums, technology and the longer now.
The MCA Anish Kapoor ePublication
This is Tristan Deratz's presentation from M&G's Online + Onsite event, the MCA Anish Kapoor ePublication.
State Library of NSW's Curio Project
This is Megan Perry and Louise Prichard's presentation about the State Library of NSW's Curio Project from M&G's Online + Onsite event.
How-to: Do oral history
This is an M&G guide on how-to do oral history, including why and how.
Digitisation—a simple guide for museums
Collections Trust UK resource on digitising your collection.
How to use Instagram to engage audiences
Museum Hack look at four Instagram accounts from museums around the world who are doing it right when it comes to engaging audiences.
Digital Access to Collections Toolkit
Practical tools for volunteers and staff in small to medium museums, galleries, libraries and archives in Australia that are collecting digital items, undertaking digitisation, and providing online access to their collections.
Social Media Toolkit for Cultural Managers
This manual explores how organisations can expand their online brand so as to push both the reach and significance of their current social media efforts using a range of tools.
Object based learning for school groups in museums
Object-based learning in museums can offer something to all learners, whatever their learning style.
Working with children
This fact sheet by M&G gives you an overview of what you need to do if you are working with children within your organisation.
School excursions and risk management
This fact sheet by M&G takes you through school excursions and the responsibilities of museums and galleries in being a safe host environment.
3D For Museums, Galleries, Learning and Teaching
Practitioners and professionals from museums, galleries and higher education explore the possibilities of 3D technologies.
Art? Art! Art....
An audience development handbook for regional art galleries.
How to promote an upcoming exhibition
Publicity and PR is all about building a positive profile and raising awareness - This resource was developed as part of M&G NSW's Engaging Art initiative.
How to engage with young people
How can you attract young people to your museum or gallery, and more importantly how can you motivate and retain a young audience - This resource was developed as part of M&G NSW's Engaging Art initiative.
Artist Contracts and Agreements
This is an M&G fact sheet about artist loan and contracts and agreements.
Artists Fees and Wages
This is an M&G fact sheet about artist fees and wages.
Galleries, Museums & Copyright - New edition
Identify and assess risks in dealing with donors, artist agreements and contracting with copyright owners. Contains a section about moral rights.
Exhibition labelling
This is an M&G Fact Sheet on Exhibition Labelling and Signage.
Basic Install Tips - 2D Hanging
Some basic tips for 2D artwork installation.
Basics of touring an exhibition
This is an M&G fact sheet addressing the basics of touring an exhibition.
Curatorial Toolkit
This is a toolkit developed by 2010 Legacies Now to assist with the entire curatorial process, from researching an idea right to installing the exhibition.
How to create a small exhibition for your museum
By Museums Australia Victoria
Facility Reports
This is an M&G fact sheet on facility reports for touring exhibitions.
Introduction to Lighting
This is a fact sheet about lighting for displays.
National Exhibition Register
The NETS Australia National Exhibition Register features touring exhibitions available for your venue.
So you want to plan an exhibition? A checklist
A list of points to consider when you are planning an exhibition, developed by Arts OutWest.
Writing a grant application? Tips for success
Read this before you start your application.
Writing for success
An M&G how-to resource on writing for success.
VIM Grants
This is a presentation from our workshop Access to Funding on VIM grants.
Project management of grants
This M&G NSW resource will take you through some key points of grant project management.
The Rewards of Risk
Harlan Hall from Berrima District Museum talks about how to secure funds in a volunteer regional museum. This is from Access to Funding 2014.
The low-down on crowdfunding
Effective crowdfunding can help raise much needed funds for one off projects.
Access to Funding 2017 - Presentations
Presentations from Access to Funding 2017, a workshop delivering specialist knowledge to make accessing funds a reality.
Strategic planning for Museums and Galleries
This fact sheet unpacks what's in a Strategic Plan and explains how to prepare one.
Checklist for New Museum Building Projects
This is a resource from Museums Galleries Scotland about new building projects. It covers everything from the building, the needs of the collection and management and costs.
Planning a new museum
This M&G fact sheet is is a checklist of important things to consider if you are planning a new museum.
Just because it's old: museums and galleries in heritage buildings
This publication will help you understand the issues involved in setting up a museum or gallery, and the problems and the advantages of using an old or heritage building.
Image Licence Template
Use this template to create your own image licence.
Not for Profit Law Information Hub
Legal resources for not for profit organisations.
Copyright: the basics
Definitions and terms explained.
Taxation requirements for not-for-profits
Australian Taxation Office requirements for NFP non-government organisations.
Legal requirements: Insurance and compliance
Legal requirements for NFP non-government museums.
What is best practice and why is it important?
Presentation introducing the principles underlying what is best practice for running a museum or gallery
Marketing for Museums
Explains some of the fundamentals of marketing and the importance of understanding your audience.
Align your business plan with local council policies and objectives
Strategic planning resource on aligning your cultural Business Plan with NSW local council policies and objectives.
Arts advocacy
Develop an arts advocacy strategy using this M&G how-to guide.
ArtChat: Art and Power Presentations
Presentations from ArtChat: Art and Power at Freda's August 20 2014.
Arts Leadership
A seminar looking at the challenges of leadership in contemporary arts organisations and asks the question: what is needed for successful leadership in the arts?
Communicating a creative vision
Strategic planning resource for creative and community based organisations.
Cultural Policy
An insight into what changes there will be for the artist community because of new National Cultural Policy.
Describing your Brand
The importance of a single message and being 'on brand' when developing a strategic or communications plan.
Getting grant ready, strategic planning and marketing
This presentation covers the basics of what you need to apply for a range of operational grants.
National Standards
These are the national standards for Australian museums and galleries.
Rebranding for Cultural Organisations
The decision to rebrand represents both a risk and opportunity - know what to consider if taking this step.
Tourism with integrity
Best practice strategies for cultural and heritage organisations in the tourism industry.
Writing a press release
A step by step guide to preparing a press release.
Cultural Tourism Toolkit
Designed to assist small regional communities to enhance, profile and package their cultural offering.
Putting together a brief for a consultant
What to consider when preparing a project brief for a potential consultant.
Tax guide for arts organisations
This guide will help not-for-profit arts/cultural organisations and individual artists understand the formalities associated with receiving philanthropic income.
Guess Who’s Going to the Museum?
This study is an initiative of M&G NSW. It examines museum audiences, their similarities, as well as their differences to gallery audiences.
An economic value study
This M&G NSW study reveals the positive contribution to local and regional communities and their economies made by the council-operated museums, galleries and performing arts centres.
Horizon Reports
The Horizon Reports are a publication of the New Media Consortium and the Marcus Institute for Digital Education in the Arts. New technology trends, impacts and challenges are identified and discussed and each technology is explored in detail with case studies.
National Touring Survey Report
The National Touring Survey collected responses from 95 small to medium public galleries, university and community art galleries from across Australia in early 2013.
NSW Museum and Gallery Sector Census and Survey
Early in 2013, M&G NSW undertook a comprehensive census and survey of the sector. Find out the results here.
Guess Who's Going to the Gallery: NSW state report
Guess Who’s Going to the Gallery? is a strategic audience evaluation study spanning from 2007 to 2010 undertaken by M&G.
Guess Who's Going to the Gallery: Sydney metro report
Guess Who’s Going to the Gallery? is a strategic audience evaluation study spanning from 2007 to 2010 undertaken by M&G.
Guess Who's Going to the Gallery: Hunter and Western Sydney report
Guess Who’s Going to the Gallery? is a strategic audience evaluation study spanning from 2007 to 2010 undertaken by M&G.
Adding Value!
How cultural facilities contribute to the local economies of the NSW Evocities.
GLAM Innovation Study
Challenges and Opportunities for Australia’s Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums
Understanding Museums: Australian Museums and Museology
A history of museums in Australia since the 1970s, covering issues in museology, regional museums and galleries, Indigenous people and museums, art museums, science museums, and museums and history.
Hazardous Materials in Medical Collections
This is a fact sheet by M&G which details materials in medical museum collections that may present a danger, either to museum workers and visitors, or to other objects in the collection
Hazardous material assistance and advice organisations
This is a list by M&G of contact details for organisations that can help you with hazardous materials.
Hazardous materials–written reference list
This is a list by M&G of references which can assist you when dealing with hazardous materials.
Hazardous materials in museum collections
This is a fact sheet by M&G which details materials in general museum collections that may present a danger, either to museum workers and visitors, or to other objects in the collection.
Risk management
This is a fact sheet by M&G all about risk management.
Museum security fact sheet
This fact sheet includes tips for reducing susceptibility to burglary or theft in your museum.
Organising your collection store
A video from Museums Australia Victoria showing you how to organise your collection store.
Storage materials to avoid
A fact sheet from Museums Galleries Scotland providing an overview of storage materials which can cause damage to collection items.
Collection storage: Shelving
This is an M&G fact sheet about different types of shelving for your collection.
Storage and display: Suitable and unsuitable materials
This list by M&G list which sorts commonly used materials such as wood products, coatings, adhesives and fabrics into suitable and unsuitable categories.
Storage and display supplier list
This is a list by M&G with contact details of storage and display suppliers.
Sustainable climate control and lighting
Make informed decisions around economically and environmentally sustainable methods of exhibition practice and collections care.
Clever Custodians
Quick tips and initiatives for improving the energy efficiency of small-to-medium museums and galleries.
Sustainable lighting in museums and galleries explained
Interview with Julian Bickersteth of International Conservation Services about sustainable lighting solutions.
Sustainability and heritage
This resource has a conservation perspective on issues such as sustainability and the built environment and the impact of climate change on cultural heritage. By the Getty Conservation Institute.
Sustainability and Museums
The Museums Association has issued this discussion paper to encourage people to think about museums and sustainability.
Museums Change Lives
This resource by Museums Association is their vision for the increased social impact of museums.
How to Conduct Audience Research
Finding out what you really need to know about your audience.
How to develop a public program
Designing public programs which are meaningful cultural experiences for new and existing audiences.
Cultural Merchandising
This is a presentation from the Regional & Public Galleries Conference 2014. Stephen Quin will outline the keys to success in cultural merchandising.
Technology free interactives
Easy ways to make your museum more interactive.
Museum fatigue
Museum Hack discusses museum-friendly spaces from a 1916 paper.
Friends of the Museum
One way of generating ongoing support for the museum is to establish a Friends Program.
Statement of principles for the recognition of volunteers
NSW Volunteering's principles for fairness, respect and dignity.
Skills Audit Template
Assess the skills of volunteers and identify skill development needs.
Volunteer succession planning: a 'how-to' guide
How to retain current volunteers and plan for new ones.
Volunteer registration form template
This is a volunteer registration form template. You can use it as a guide or just insert your own details.
Managing Volunteers in Museums & Cultural Collections
Ten things you should know if you are managing volunteers.
Interns can transform your organisation
Get your organisation involved with an intern program.
Intern report: Willoughby Museum
Read how Alexis Tay has contributed to the Willoughby Museum.
Develop a Volunteer Policy
This M&G resource explains the essential elements of a volunteer policy. It can be used as a template or a guide to develop your own comprehensive volunteer policy.
Introduction to museum volunteers
An introductory guide to planning for, recruiting and training volunteers in your museum. Developed by Museums Galleries Scotland.
Museums & Galleries of NSW
(M&G NSW) provides programs and services improving the visitor experience in small to medium museums, galleries and Aboriginal cultural centres across NSW.
@MGNSW: @OutbackArts is seeking second-hand exhibition equipment, such as plinths, Perspex cases, hanging framing ,etc. Ple… https://t.co/EvgtQ1uMWm
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